English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Using the Nominative Case
Chapter 2. Using Pronouns Correctly
Part 1 Welcome to grammarland

1. Use the nominative case to show the subject of a verb.

Father and (I, me) like to shop at flea markets.

Answer: I is the subject of the sentence. Therefore, the pronoun is in the nominative case: “Father and I like to shop at flea markets.”

To help determine the correct pronoun, take away the first subject and try each choice. See which one sounds better. For example:

I like to shop at flea markets.

Me like to shop at flea markets.

The first one definitely sounds better.

Quick Tip

When you list two or more subjects, always put yourself last. Therefore, the sentence would read “Father and I,” never “I and Father.”

(Who, Whom) do you believe is the better shopper?

Answer: Who is the subject of the verb is. Therefore, the sentence would read, “Who do you believe is the better shopper?”

Ignore interrupting expressions such as do you believe, you think, do you suppose (and so on). They do not affect pronoun case.

2. Use the nominative case for a predicate nominative.

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and identifies or renames the subject. Remember that a linking verb connects a subject to a word that renames it. Linking verbs indicate a state of being (am, is, are, etc.), relate to the senses (look, smell, taste, etc.), or indicate a condition (appear, seem, become, etc.).

The salesman of the month was (I, me).

Answer: Use I, since the pronoun renames the subject, the salesman of the month. “The salesman of the month was I.”

Which is correct: “It is I” or “It is me”? Technically, the correct form is “It is I,” since we’re dealing with a predicate nominative. However, “It is me” (and “It is us”) has become increasingly acceptable as standard usage.